It looks like you are using an ad blocker. That's okay. Who doesn't? But without advertising revenue, we can't keep making this site awesome. Click the link below for instructions on disabling adblock.
Welcome to the Newschoolers forums! You may read the forums as a guest, however you must be a registered member to post.
Register to become a member today!
SNOW is the first true freeride and freestyle game for skiers and snowboarders. Based on the free-to-play model, SNOW looks to restart the winter sports genre taking the player back to basics refining scale, physics and controls to capture the majesty of the mountain. SNOW is a game for riders, by riders.
SNOW will be released for free later this year and developed according to feedback from the community.
OK, so I've just lowered the graphics settings all the way and reduced the resolution as far as it goes, and it works!
I just wanted to givea bit of feedback about the game:
The rail mechanics have improved greatly. I just spent a good hour in the park doing laps of the rails, and it was a ton of fun.
Jump mechanics are almost perfect at this point. I feel as though the only thing detracting from the jumping experience is the amount the skier sticks to the snow, ie if I go over a lip and dont pop I will stick to the snow. I think this value needs to be reduced considerably, as its pretty unrealistic at the moment.
In terms of map construction, I have one main suggestion: As soon as possible, remove all the kickers from the urban areas, and add a system for people to be able to place rails and kickers themselves, as this will open up TONS of new ski opportunities. If you did implement the dropper, make sure to add a bunch of hits that werent created before. I really like the urban area as it is now though, tons of rails and fun lines to do. Also, I really like how many rocks were removed, as it was just rediculous at some higher map points.
Finally, A feature that would be really useful would be kind of in tandem with the object editor above. This could take a little more work: Make a placeable winch for getting speed for urban areas and other flat/short spaces. This would be incredibly useful, and would definitely affect the dynamic of the map.
I noticed with my computer my FPS is pretty much perfect everywhere except the park, once I get in any park my FPS drops and it gets laggy with all the settings on low.
MiomoIt's gonna be free anyway, so there's really no point to "pirating
I understand, I was just stating the reasons someone may want a hard copy. Actually, the PS4 version would probably be a digital download too; that makes his question even more retarded.
georgen12sorry if im being moronic, but what does closed beta mean, does it mean it will be for free to everyone?
nope, as far as I know it means it will be released to only those who have purchased it before hand, and once its out of closed beta it will be again available for purchase, but they're still only going to make it free to play once its properly finished which is still awhile off.
I'd buy it if I were you, its only $15 and its so awesome already. Ive had it for two days and already played for 7 hours
if you own the game already you are guaranteed first-in-line for the Closed Beta (and will get access a few weeks earlier)
if you don't own the game, go over to http://www.snowthegame.com and sign up for the Closed Beta - you'll be invited to play (for free!) late-March, on a first come first serve basis.
if you own the game already you are guaranteed first-in-line for the Closed Beta (and will get access a few weeks earlier)
if you don't own the game, go over to http://www.snowthegame.com and sign up for the Closed Beta - you'll be invited to play (for free!) late-March, on a first come first serve basis.
does that make sense?
Awesome! How will it be different in terms of development?
We'll release more info about it over the next few months.
We still don't have an ETA on Mac support, but we hope for something soon. Ping Crytek and tell them that you're waiting - it's up to them to get it going.
We'll release more info about it over the next few months.
We still don't have an ETA on Mac support, but we hope for something soon. Ping Crytek and tell them that you're waiting - it's up to them to get it going.
alright so i downloaded the game yesterday onto my hp envy dv4, and everytime i try to load a map it's as if someone turned all the lights off. on the mountain map i can't see shit, how do i fix this? i'm pretty pissed at the moment, i spent fifteen bucks to not be able to play the game properly. All the settings are on the lowest possible and it still doesn't work
I've been playing a lot and more and more I'm disliking the jump mechanics. Since we've had a couple of fairly detailed posts in here about grabs I thought I'd throw one in about aerial rotations, cos I thought quite hard about this.
The current system isn't a very good reflection, to say the least, of what a skier does before and during jump tricks. The way spin is generated is inaccurate, leading to physically (virtually) impossible rotations being extremely easy. For example you can spin right, then turn back and spin left, and there are very very few examples in real life of this happening. Also tricks are unintuitive, and extremely difficult real-world tricks like bio 360s are phenomenally easy in SNOW.
The second problem is that it makes the control scheme inefficient. The skier can rotate on three axis and, like Shredsauce, SNOW has taken the most basic approach to modelling rotation. SNOW has complicated the mechanism to mask the simplicity of the model, such as pre-loading spin and butters, but the flaws in the model still shine through.
We can break rotation down into three rotational vectors. They have mathematical names, but I think it would be easier simply to refer to them as 's' (left/right spin), 'f' (front/back flip), and 'l' (lincoln). The current system is to assign controller axis to each of these, which leads to a complicated control scheme because there are no three-axis input devices. The solution is to use an analog stick (controls s and f) with triggers (controls l). In virtually no game is there such a complex rotational control scheme.
Basically, the current model is that each controller axis (x, y and z) controls the magnitude of a different rotational vector. The sum of the three (static) vectors can describe any constant rotation. Applying x,y,z input mid-trick alters these vectors with respect to the skier axis, and I think this is another big underlying problem.
When a skier is in the air they can modify their rotation in two ways: they can spread out and slow their rotation (angular momentum is still conserved, a la physics), or they can contort their bodies in ways that can change some of their rotational vectors.
I'm going to get quite complicated now. Let's change the model so that the z-axis aligns with the gravitational axis. Now z-axis rotation (s when our skier is standing straight up) is perfectly perpendicular to the angle from which gravity pulls. Keeping this frame of reference we can make an assumption: in real life airborne skiers cannot modify their z-axis rotation. This is almost always true. This assumption impacts the control scheme: we are now restricted to two axis of rotation while the skier is in the air, meaning that all controls can be performed using one analog stick.
Now let us consider the skier coming into the jump. He winds up to spin, then 'throws' the trick by pushing his centre of gravity either sideways (l) or forwards/backwards (f). The current control system requires three input axis to control the skier while he prepares to jump, and ideally it should only be two.
I thought about this for a while and recently I had what I think is quite a good idea. I'm going to write it in terms of controller/analog stick, but it can be converted to keyboard. goes as follows:
1. The skier is approaching the jump. As he reaches the jump a 'jump' button (X) is held down.
2. Spin rotation (s) is prepared solely by winding up. This is done by rotating the analog stick, clockwise for right spin and counter clockwise for left. Speed and amount of rotation affect the initial rate of spin.
3. After spin is prepared the analog stick returns to centre while the skier reaches the top of the jump. Pre-loaded spin is conserved, or perhaps falls slowly.
4. At the lip, the player must perform two simultaneous actions, and the timing of these actions affects the result. Firstly, X must be released, this is the cue for the skiers legs to push up. Secondly, the analog stick is flicked sideways or up/down. The angle and speed of this controls the direction in which the skier throws the trick. For normal spins, the analog stick need not be flicked.
5. As soon as the skier is off the ground all three rotational vectors should be set. Now they are translated as the frame of reference shifts (gravity pulls on z-axis) - we no longer control the skier with respect to how he sees the world, rather the left analog stick allows us to make small adjustments to the rotation in the x and y rotational axis. This will allow us to perform double/triple flips, or under-rotate tricks.
6. When the skier is coming to land he opens up to slow rotation. This can be cued to a single button, for example L3. The computer should take control here - the skill isn't in stopping the rotation manually, it's in timing the button so you stop at the right time. Too late - over-rotate, bang. Too early and you under-rotate. You can hold on to push as late as possible, try to get that extra 180, or maybe try stopping a trick early and come off balance and fall. Get it right, and progress flawlessly into the next jump.
This system could be translated directly into computer controllers if you move away from the typical WSAD. WSAD are discreet inputs and you want continuous axis. So use the mouse.
I'd be interested to know what people think.
There may be technical errors in my math. Ignore them.
*DUMBCAN*extremely difficult real-world tricks like bio 360s are phenomenally easy in SNOW.
well I mean at the end of the day, it's still a video game. if they are going to make a bio 3 as hard in-game as it is in real lif, then you're better off just trying to learn them in person. what's the point of video games if you can't be a little bit unrealistic sometimes? it's a skiing video game not a skiing simulator
JahLiamwell I mean at the end of the day, it's still a video game. if they are going to make a bio 3 as hard in-game as it is in real lif, then you're better off just trying to learn them in person. what's the point of video games if you can't be a little bit unrealistic sometimes? it's a skiing video game not a skiing simulator
That's not what I'm saying. I'm just saying it would be nice to be able to perform tricks like the ones people do in real life.
In response to dumbcan, I would pay really good money to play a game with controls like this. This is what skate did with the flickit controls, they made the controls translate somewhat to real life.
*DUMBCAN*I've been playing a lot and more and more I'm disliking the jump mechanics. Since we've had a couple of fairly detailed posts in here about grabs I thought I'd throw one in about aerial rotations, cos I thought quite hard about this.
The current system isn't a very good reflection, to say the least, of what a skier does before and during jump tricks. The way spin is generated is inaccurate, leading to physically (virtually) impossible rotations being extremely easy. For example you can spin right, then turn back and spin left, and there are very very few examples in real life of this happening. Also tricks are unintuitive, and extremely difficult real-world tricks like bio 360s are phenomenally easy in SNOW.
The second problem is that it makes the control scheme inefficient. The skier can rotate on three axis and, like Shredsauce, SNOW has taken the most basic approach to modelling rotation. SNOW has complicated the mechanism to mask the simplicity of the model, such as pre-loading spin and butters, but the flaws in the model still shine through.
We can break rotation down into three rotational vectors. They have mathematical names, but I think it would be easier simply to refer to them as 's' (left/right spin), 'f' (front/back flip), and 'l' (lincoln). The current system is to assign controller axis to each of these, which leads to a complicated control scheme because there are no three-axis input devices. The solution is to use an analog stick (controls s and f) with triggers (controls l). In virtually no game is there such a complex rotational control scheme.
Basically, the current model is that each controller axis (x, y and z) controls the magnitude of a different rotational vector. The sum of the three (static) vectors can describe any constant rotation. Applying x,y,z input mid-trick alters these vectors with respect to the skier axis, and I think this is another big underlying problem.
When a skier is in the air they can modify their rotation in two ways: they can spread out and slow their rotation (angular momentum is still conserved, a la physics), or they can contort their bodies in ways that can change some of their rotational vectors.
I'm going to get quite complicated now. Let's change the model so that the z-axis aligns with the gravitational axis. Now z-axis rotation (s when our skier is standing straight up) is perfectly perpendicular to the angle from which gravity pulls. Keeping this frame of reference we can make an assumption: in real life airborne skiers cannot modify their z-axis rotation. This is almost always true. This assumption impacts the control scheme: we are now restricted to two axis of rotation while the skier is in the air, meaning that all controls can be performed using one analog stick.
Now let us consider the skier coming into the jump. He winds up to spin, then 'throws' the trick by pushing his centre of gravity either sideways (l) or forwards/backwards (f). The current control system requires three input axis to control the skier while he prepares to jump, and ideally it should only be two.
I thought about this for a while and recently I had what I think is quite a good idea. I'm going to write it in terms of controller/analog stick, but it can be converted to keyboard. goes as follows:
1. The skier is approaching the jump. As he reaches the jump a 'jump' button (X) is held down.
2. Spin rotation (s) is prepared solely by winding up. This is done by rotating the analog stick, clockwise for right spin and counter clockwise for left. Speed and amount of rotation affect the initial rate of spin.
3. After spin is prepared the analog stick returns to centre while the skier reaches the top of the jump. Pre-loaded spin is conserved, or perhaps falls slowly.
4. At the lip, the player must perform two simultaneous actions, and the timing of these actions affects the result. Firstly, X must be released, this is the cue for the skiers legs to push up. Secondly, the analog stick is flicked sideways or up/down. The angle and speed of this controls the direction in which the skier throws the trick. For normal spins, the analog stick need not be flicked.
5. As soon as the skier is off the ground all three rotational vectors should be set. Now they are translated as the frame of reference shifts (gravity pulls on z-axis) - we no longer control the skier with respect to how he sees the world, rather the left analog stick allows us to make small adjustments to the rotation in the x and y rotational axis. This will allow us to perform double/triple flips, or under-rotate tricks.
6. When the skier is coming to land he opens up to slow rotation. This can be cued to a single button, for example L3. The computer should take control here - the skill isn't in stopping the rotation manually, it's in timing the button so you stop at the right time. Too late - over-rotate, bang. Too early and you under-rotate. You can hold on to push as late as possible, try to get that extra 180, or maybe try stopping a trick early and come off balance and fall. Get it right, and progress flawlessly into the next jump.
This system could be translated directly into computer controllers if you move away from the typical WSAD. WSAD are discreet inputs and you want continuous axis. So use the mouse.
I'd be interested to know what people think.
There may be technical errors in my math. Ignore them.
This could be cool, but it would be hard as hell to use a mouse because its hard to remember the start point ie where you dont spin or flip and just straight air. Redoing the mechanics is fine but let us still control the rotations using wasd
SNOWTheGameWe still don't have an ETA on Mac support, but we hope for something soon. Ping Crytek and tell them that you're waiting - it's up to them to get it going.
Cincy_SteezeWhen if ever is it going to be realized for mac
I aint even mad at your reading ability, in fact, I'm impressed. You've just about surpassed my 3-year old nephew.
MLJThis could be cool, but it would be hard as hell to use a mouse because its hard to remember the start point ie where you dont spin or flip and just straight air. Redoing the mechanics is fine but let us still control the rotations using wasd
Click (sets zero point) -> move mouse in circles -> release click and swipe mouse
that was what I had in mind for mouse controls than simply replicating the x and y from the analog stick. The problem with buttons is they only have two quantised input values (0% or 100%) and this is intrinsically restrictive.
*DUMBCAN*I've been playing a lot and more and more I'm disliking the jump mechanics. Since we've had a couple of fairly detailed posts in here about grabs I thought I'd throw one in about aerial rotations, cos I thought quite hard about this.
Hey - thanks for such detailed and comprehensive feedback! Believe it or not, this is pretty much how the game was originally designed. Instead of dealing with most of the rotations once you're in-air, you would pre-set your spin before you left the jump and then have the ability to make certain tweaks in the air. If we had all the time in the world I'd definitely want to try this out and see how different it would feel. But, with the limited resources we have we had to make a decision and stick with it.
In the end we're making a game and we want it to appeal to skiers and non-skiers a like. This meant sacrificing certain things that would be too hard to teach a new player or someone that doesn't know how skiing works. The controls we went with in the end are more common for a game like this and therefore more intuitive to pick up from the get-go. The game is already pretty complicated with all the controls to learn and the fact that you end up hitting obstacles pretty quickly if you're not careful, so we didn't want to add additional layers for the players to learn before being able to get down the mountain.
And, hell - this is a game. No one wants to have play a game that is as hard as it is in real life. Have you played any FPSs recently? Do you really think it's that easy to just pick up a rifle and headshot someone?
We are going to do another pass of the values for air rotations - I do think they could be tweaked to be a little better and possibly make some of the harder IRL tricks a bit harder. This is an ongoing process though because every time you tweak something you need to tweak it back a bit to quell the rage of a slight change in how the game feels.
Hope that helps as an answer to your feedback. We love how invested you are to helping us make this game perfect and we are truly doing everything we can to meet the expectations.
SNOWTheGameAnd, hell - this is a game. No one wants to have play a game that is as hard as it is in real life. Have you played any FPSs recently? Do you really think it's that easy to just pick up a rifle and headshot someone?
We are going to do another pass of the values for air rotations - I do think they could be tweaked to be a little better and possibly make some of the harder IRL tricks a bit harder. This is an ongoing process though because every time you tweak something you need to tweak it back a bit to quell the rage of a slight change in how the game feels.
Hope that helps as an answer to your feedback. We love how invested you are to helping us make this game perfect and we are truly doing everything we can to meet the expectations.
You guys are awesome and I completely respect your decision.
I think something that got lost is that I really don't want simply to make it harder. I think it's far too hard right now to do tricks that we see people do, like dub 10s, when you can do tricks that are nigh on impossible in real life.
It's not about making the game harder, it's about making tricks that are hard in real life rewarding when you learn them in game.
My problem with the in air rotation system is that the biggest trick i can do is a cork 7, and for that matter it doesnt even look like a cork 7. Im using the keyboard to play is there a trick for better rotations other than the shift key?
Also the ski models kind of annoy me. For example according to the game, line sick day 95s have the exact same profile as the sick day 110s and both of which have identical shapes as the rest of the line skis. And its like that for almost every ski. There needs to be realistic ski shapes. it would be cool if the skis were categorized by the type of ski they are (powder, park, all mtn) and then assigned different attributes that would benefit the player if they used the proper ski in the proper terrain, and negatively affect the player if they used a park ski in powder for example
*DUMBCAN*It's not about making the game harder, it's about making tricks that are hard in real life rewarding when you learn them in game.
I agree, but unfortunately it simply might be the case in some instances. Instead, other tricks might be harder, still resulting in challenging (and fun) gameplay.
CyabskiIm using the keyboard to play is there a trick for better rotations other than the shift key?
Maybe your keyboard can't handle the inputs you're giving it? Also keep in mind that our rotation "counter" still needs some work and isn't super accurate so you might be actually doing more spins than you think...
CyabskiAlso the ski models kind of annoy me. For example according to the game, line sick day 95s have the exact same profile as the sick day 110s and both of which have identical shapes as the rest of the line skis. And its like that for almost every ski. There needs to be realistic ski shapes. it would be cool if the skis were categorized by the type of ski they are (powder, park, all mtn) and then assigned different attributes that would benefit the player if they used the proper ski in the proper terrain, and negatively affect the player if they used a park ski in powder for example
We have a half-dozen ski shapes but will make the ski shapes more accurate later on. We also have to consider that there is no pressure being put on the skis so things like camber would be super obvious when riding (since the ski wouldn't be flexed downwards). Finally, we need to make sure grabs are no clipping through the skis, so we need to make a special system for that.
We will have different ski types in the future that affect the feeling when riding on different terrains.
SNOW is so cool because of this thread. The amount of player input you guys have to go through is probably insane but because you take the time to reply to what people are saying, it makes us the gamers feel important. You guys at poppermost are taking the best possible approach to developing a game like this and it is exciting to read this thred and learn how the game is being evolved
spintowinGCan anyone tell me where the biggest cliff/ drop/ jump on the game is please? Also struggling to work out how to fly? Thanks in advance.
There's a few decent ones.
Most obvious is about 1 o clock from the first spawn point, it's possible to do triple fronts off it.
Absolute biggest I've found is quite hard to get to. Go to Sialia summit, and go left all the way around the rock behind where you start. After turning a bit more than 180 degrees (it's easier to go left) go straight on just to the right of the next group of rocks. This is kinda vague but after a while you should come to the top of a ski lift. Beyond the ski lift is a fence, ride with the fence on the left until the first gap. Turn through here into the couloir, go down a bit and you come to an ice river. Don't bomb this, you'll have more than enough speed and you'll fall over (probably). When you get to the end there's a bit that looks like a good ramp, and unsurprisingly it is. It's possible to get 5 frontlips here.
Most obvious is about 1 o clock from the first spawn point, it's possible to do triple fronts off it.
Absolute biggest I've found is quite hard to get to. Go to Sialia summit, and go left all the way around the rock behind where you start. After turning a bit more than 180 degrees (it's easier to go left) go straight on just to the right of the next group of rocks. This is kinda vague but after a while you should come to the top of a ski lift. Beyond the ski lift is a fence, ride with the fence on the left until the first gap. Turn through here into the couloir, go down a bit and you come to an ice river. Don't bomb this, you'll have more than enough speed and you'll fall over (probably). When you get to the end there's a bit that looks like a good ramp, and unsurprisingly it is. It's possible to get 5 frontlips here.
Yeah I got quads off the first one you mentioned, struggling to find the other one though, have got to a point where there is 2 ski lifts following the instructions but then can't see a fence?
Also any reason why they got rid of the 'sketchy/perfect' landings thing? Thought it was good.
CyabskiSNOW is so cool because of this thread. The amount of player input you guys have to go through is probably insane but because you take the time to reply to what people are saying, it makes us the gamers feel important. You guys at poppermost are taking the best possible approach to developing a game like this and it is exciting to read this thred and learn how the game is being evolved
spintowinGYeah I got quads off the first one you mentioned, struggling to find the other one though, have got to a point where there is 2 ski lifts following the instructions but then can't see a fence?
Also any reason why they got rid of the 'sketchy/perfect' landings thing? Thought it was good.
SNOWTheGameHey - thanks for such detailed and comprehensive feedback! Believe it or not, this is pretty much how the game was originally designed. Instead of dealing with most of the rotations once you're in-air, you would pre-set your spin before you left the jump and then have the ability to make certain tweaks in the air. If we had all the time in the world I'd definitely want to try this out and see how different it would feel. But, with the limited resources we have we had to make a decision and stick with it.
In the end we're making a game and we want it to appeal to skiers and non-skiers a like. This meant sacrificing certain things that would be too hard to teach a new player or someone that doesn't know how skiing works. The controls we went with in the end are more common for a game like this and therefore more intuitive to pick up from the get-go. The game is already pretty complicated with all the controls to learn and the fact that you end up hitting obstacles pretty quickly if you're not careful, so we didn't want to add additional layers for the players to learn before being able to get down the mountain.
And, hell - this is a game. No one wants to have play a game that is as hard as it is in real life. Have you played any FPSs recently? Do you really think it's that easy to just pick up a rifle and headshot someone?
We are going to do another pass of the values for air rotations - I do think they could be tweaked to be a little better and possibly make some of the harder IRL tricks a bit harder. This is an ongoing process though because every time you tweak something you need to tweak it back a bit to quell the rage of a slight change in how the game feels.
Hope that helps as an answer to your feedback. We love how invested you are to helping us make this game perfect and we are truly doing everything we can to meet the expectations.
Would you ever consider trying an alternate control system as a different control set up? Don't get me wrong, the game looks sweet, but its the mechanics that people will usually buy the game for, and innovative mechanics are rare nowadays
S Games is now live on SNOW Test (for those of you that have the Tester or Founder Pack). Once we know it's stable (should take a day or so) we will make it live on regular SNOW app.
has anyone else noticed how touchy the turning is? I think steering sensitivity would help, being able to adjust it yourself. maybe it's just me, but turning with the keyboard, I can never line a rail up
SNOWTheGameS Games is now live on SNOW Test (for those of you that have the Tester or Founder Pack). Once we know it's stable (should take a day or so) we will make it live on regular SNOW app.
Anyone having issues with the S Games level? I never had a problem with crashing but I can't get a single full lap through the slope course without SNOW crashing on me.
